Martha and the Muffins Newcastle Mayfair April 1980
Martha and the Muffins appeared on the UK music scene in the late 70s, and reached the height of their popularity in 1980, with the success of their great fun single “Echo Beach”. The band is from Canada and a version continues to this day. They were considered new wave at the time and you could see that they were influenced by the B52s, and Blondie, among others. The Mayfair was absolutely packed to the walls for this gig, which was surprising given most people, including me, will only have known one song by the band. The band was led by two keyboard player vocalists who both called Marta (confusing or what ! :)); Martha Ladly and Martha Johnson. My memory is of a set of pleasant songs and major craziness, dancing and singing along by everyone for “Echo Beach”. I found a review of their gig at the Marquee, which was printed in Sounds at the time, and was a little luke warm: “Audience reaction throughout was remarkably appreciative considering the newness of band and material, and despite the overly polite, slightly incommunicative stance of the Muffins. You know what they say about art students. ‘Echo Beach’ came across the most confidently. “We don’t know if it really exists,” mused a Muffin, “but maybe it’s on stage tonight.”” (Betty Page, Sounds, 1 March 1980).
“Echo Beach” is one of those catchy songs that you can’t get out of your mind. Haven’t written this, that song is going to be rattling around in my head for the rest of today. “From nine till five I have to spend my time at work, The job is very boring, I’m an office clerk, The only thing that helps pass the time away, Is knowing I’ll be back at Echo Beach some day.
Echo Beach, Far away in time. Echo Beach, Far away in time” (Martha and the Muffins, 1979)
Posts Tagged ‘pop’
3 Oct
Martha and the Muffins Newcastle Mayfair April 1980
2 Oct
Fleetwood Mac Manchester Arena 1 Oct 2013
Fleetwood Mac Manchester Arena 1 Oct 2013
Great show by Fleetwood Mac last night at Manchester Arena. Possibly the best time I’ve seen them. Fleetwood Mac are enjoying a renewed wave of success. It seems everyone wants to see them and demand for tickets for their concerts has been much greater than the last couple of occasions they visited the UK. This gig at the massive 20,000 capacity Manchester Arena sold out in a matter of hours and tickets have been changing hands for twice their (already expensive) face value. There has also been some added excitement in the form of Christine McVie rejoining her old band mates at a couple of the London concerts.
I was sitting in my seat way up in the top level at the back of the arena. This is the 5th time I’ve seen the band, the first being way back in 1972, and I was still pretty excited and really looked forward to it. I was quite a distance away from the stage, but it gave me a great view of the whole arena. This was very much a classic rock show with crowd pleasing songs, drawn largely from “Fleetwood Mac”, “Rumours” and “Tusk”, excellent visuals, and great individual performances by each member of the band. Stevie still manages to pull off her gypsy, hippy rock chick image, all swirling skirts, twirling folk dancing, and even we even saw the return of her top hat towards the end of the show. She may have reworked some of the songs to remove the higher parts, but her vocals remain stunning. It would be easy to say that Lindsey Buckingham is the star of the show. He is on stage throughout, performing a couple of songs solo, notably Big Love which was outstanding, and featured Lindsey with acoustic guitar in front of a massive black and white video image of himself. His guitar playing was excellent, and got a great crowd reaction. But it would be unfair to focus on the couple out front; after all without the two older guys at the back there would be no Fleetwood Mac. Mick Fleetwood sat behind a massive drum kit, towering over the others as a man and as a presence. A true English gentleman of the old school, he came over as a cross between the gentle head master, and a master of ceremonies. I hadn’t noticed it before, but most of the songs seem to start with Mick and the drums leading the others into the melody. John McVie is the quiet man, who Mick says is “always on my right, and the backbone of Fleetwood Mac”. His role should not be underplayed. Together those two guys kept the faith through hard times, and managed the rebirth of the Mac, achieving what seemed to be the impossible. 
Last night I felt a different vibe around the Mac. What I saw way down in front of me on that stage was a group of friends who have finally come to terms with who they are, how they relate to each other, and the trials and tribulations of the past. It was obvious, much more so than on previous outings, that these four guys have reached a place of deep understanding and respect for each other as people. The vocal interplay and the looks and stares between Lindsey and Stevie were much sharper than in the past. On “The Chain” they were almost spitting the words at each other. At another point they hugged, and when they returned for the encore it was hand in hand.
The sound was a little ropey when the band first came on stage and started with “Second Hand News” but by the second song “The Chain”, it was sharp and crisp. Highlights for me were “Rhiannon”, probably my favourite, “Gold Dust Women” and the closer “Go Your Own Way”. I even enjoyed Mick’s drum solo during “World Turning” and the tracks from “Tusk” started to make some sort of sense to me; after all this time. The band seemed in quite a playful mood. At one point, someone shouted, “I f***ing love you Stevie!” and she responded, “I f***ing love you too! It’s a f***ing lovefest in here!”. Lindsey then joined in, mimicking a northern accent “I f***ing love you, Stevie”. I was a little disappointed that there were no songs from the Old Mac days. “Oh Well” remained in the set for many years, but has been dropped now. This line-up also used to perform “The Green Manalishi” in the 1970s; now that would be great to see. As Mick said at the end “The Mac are back”.
If the rumours are to be believed they could be returning to the UK to headline Glastonbury in 2014. Based on last night’s performance, if they do play, they will tear the Pyramid stage apart, and could easily match this year’s performance by The Stones. Setlist: Second Hand News; The Chain; Dreams; Sad Angel; Rhiannon; Not That Funny; Tusk; Sisters of the Moon; Sara; Big Love; Landslide; Never Going Back Again; Without You; Gypsy; Eyes of the World; Gold Dust Woman; I’m So Afraid; Stand Back; Go Your Own Way. Encore 1: World Turning (including Drum Solo); Don’t Stop. Encore 2: Silver Springs; Say Goodbye.
1 Oct
Alvin Lee (solo) in concert 1979 to 2004
Alvin Lee (solo) in concert 1979 to 2004
The late great Alvin Lee is a hero of mine. From the moment I saw his incredible performance in the Woodstock film I was hooked. That excerpt of him playing Going Home just blew me away. His guitar playing was exceptional, so fast; it seemed incredible, almost impossible that anyone could play at that speed. I sat in my bedroom practicing for ages, playing my vinyl copy of Going Home at 16rpm to try and pick out the notes. Sadly I failed; I went back to learning Clapton and Peter Green licks. At least they were slower, although I could never get the feel right. Oh and the single Love Like a Man was also a great favourite of mine when I was at school. Today I’m reflecting on the times I saw Alvin Lee in concert as a solo artist. I will write about the great Ten Years After when I get to the letter “T” (sorry for splitting Alvin’s work in this way, but that’s the way my programme and ticket collection is organised so I have to stick with it now :)).
My first engagement with the solo Alvin, was according to my tickets, in 1979 at Newcastle City Hall. Actually I am pretty sure that he was touring with a three piece band called Ten Years Later at the time, but the promoter obviously felt it better to list the gig as an Alvin Lee concert. The place was pretty empty as I recall, and Alvin was playing some new material, some rock n roll classics, and a few Ten Years After tunes. I think he played Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Choo Choo Mama and Going Home. As always his guitar technique was excellent and his energy was boundless. The guy simply WAS rock n roll.
There was a long gap before I saw Alvin again. The next time was at Sunderland Empire in the early 90s, possibly in 1993 or 1994. By then Alvin had returned to playing many of the TYA classics and just tore the place apart. The last Alvin Lee concert I attended was when I went with a group of mates to see him, Edgar Winter and Tony McPhee on a blues package bill at Newcastle Opera House. 
I found a setlist from around that time which includes: Rock and Roll Music to the World; Hear Me Calling; I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes; How Do You Do It; Don’t Want You Woman; Getting Nowhere Fast; I Don’t Give a Damn; I’m Gonna Make It; Slow Blues in “C”; Skooby-Ooobly-Doobop; Love Like a Man; I’m Going Home; Rip It Up; Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On / Johnny B. Goode / Bye Bye Johnny. Again, Alvin was superb, much better than the other bands on the bill. Edgar Winter was also pretty good. Although I am a big fan of Tony McPhee his performance that night wasn’t too hot, I’m afraid.
When I think of Alvin Lee I picture him playing Going Home or Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, with a red Gibson guitar, super fast guitar playing and a unique mix of rock’n’roll, jazz and blues. Oh and sometimes some pretty crazy scat singing.
When I heard Alvin Lee had passed away I couldn’t believe it. He seemed so full of energy and always looked so fit. He is a big miss. There really wasn’t any other guitar player like him, and there still isn’t.
29 Sep
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1979
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1979
The last time I attended a Nils Lofgren concert at Newcastle City Hall was in September 1979. I have seen Nils since, as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band, but this was the last time I saw him in concert as a solo artist. Support came from Live Wire, a London pub rock band led by guitarist/vocalist Mike Edwards. Their music resembled Kilburn and the High Roads, or early Dire Straits. The tour was in support of Lofgren’s sixth solo album, simply called “Nils”. 
The strongest memory that I have of Nils concerts, is of Nils and his stage antics which were quite theatrical at the time and included a trampoline. For some crazy reason he had taken to having the trampoline on stage so that he could do body flips, while playing his guitar, ay various points in the show. He was obviously a pretty fit guy, but I remember thinking that it was a pretty bizarre thing to do. The trampoline gimmick stayed with Nils during his early days with Bruce and the E Street band. I’m not sure when he stopped using it, but I am pretty sure that he hasn’t done so in the recent Springsteen concerts that I have attended.
28 Sep
Rod Stewart Newcastle Arena 27th Sep 2013
Rod Stewart Newcastle Arena 27th Sep 2013
I nearly didnt go this time. In many ways Rod has become just a little too much Vegas, a little too much cabaret for my liking. But the voice in my head said “Come on. It’s Rod and he has a new album out and he will still sing some of the old songs”……so the day before the gig I bought a cheap 🙂 £60 (ouch! and what is this £7.75 “fee”? :() ticket way up the back of the arena. I arrived just before Rod took to the stage and bought a programme which reminded me why I came. It contains lots of old pictures of Rod; Rod and the Faces; Rod and Long John Baldry; Rod and Ronnie; Rod and Jeff Beck; Rod in the nattiest check suit with cool shades and a crazy mod barnet.
8.15 prompt and the curtain falls. He starts with “This old heart of mine” and lots of great images of Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, and the Isley Brothers behind him. Showing your roots Rod. “You wear it well”‘ a great version; takes me back.
“You can’t beat Friday night” Rod tells us and off we go with Sam Cooke’s “Twisting the night away” and I am back in a field in Reading more than 40 years ago. Very 60s swirling backdrop for that one. “Tonights the night”: not one of my favourites lots of embarrassing singalong. “Sweet little rock n roller”; this is more like it Rod. He has a pretty fine band, with a horn section, girl singers, and a good guitarist. The sound is pretty clear too, and I’m right at the back and can still hear ok. Being a “war baby” Rodd dedicates the next one to our troops; its “Rhythm of my heart” Then he introduces his daughter Ruby to sing one of her own songs “Just One More Day” which was pretty good. Good to see he’s keeping it in the family and supporting his daughter in this way. Rod returns and duets on “Forever Young” with Ruby which leads into them leaving the stage while the band perform a serious drum and percussion solo (oh no!) which actually goes down incredibly well with the crowd. Not to worry they are soon back to finish the song. Rod takes a seat and introduces the “small cocktail orchestra” which includes Julie on a very impressive harp. “First cut is the deepest” in acoustic form with harp and orchestra; just beautiful thats more like it Rod. 
“I don’t want to talk about it” which Rod introduces as “We have been singing this song together for 35 years” and sing along indeed the crowd does; cheesy but good and a new treatment with the string section. Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” is next; a bit smaltzchy; a couple beside me get up and dance cheek to cheek at the back of the hall.Then it’s “new album time”: “Brighton beach”; “Can’t stop me now” with some great old black and white video of Rod from the 60s, and of his Dad. “She makes me happy”: I have heard this one too many times on the radio recently. Then its “a song from way back which mee and Ronnie recorded in one take back in 1971” and we are into Rather Go Blind. Great stuff. Takes me back 40 odd years again. Rod takes a break while the girls sing “Soul Man” ( as Soul Girl) in front of montage images of Sam and Dave.
Rod returns for “You’re in my heart” and then “Maggie May” which always brings back great memories of when I was a kid; it would be so good to see Ronnie back for this once more. Now we are on the home stretch: “Sailing”; “Hot Legs” with lots pf footballs; “Baby Jane” and the curtain comes down. I beat a retreat into the car park and make my exit to the strains of “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” which is the encore (and I assume the closing number).
Overall verdict. Pretty good actually. I’m glad I went. Better than the last couple of times I have seen him. The Mod is still in there somewhere and now and then he comes out and its just like old times. The old rockers are still the best.
27 Sep
Nils Lofgren and Tom Petty Newcastle City Hall 1977
Nils Lofgren and Tom Petty Newcastle City Hall 1977
On a few occasions I have seen the support act clearly outshine the headliner. Lynyrd Skynyrd as support act for Golden Earring is one example. This pairing, of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers supporting Nils Lofgren in 1977 is another. We’d read a lot about this new upcoming band who combined classic rock with the energy of punk, the Byrds’ jangling guitars, and a cool blonde-haired guy singing. I’d seen them on TV, probably on the Old Grey Whistle Test, and was blown away by the song “American Girl”. I remember being a little confused by the name, as I had just seen Johnny Thunders and his Heartbreakers in concert! So we made sure we were in the City Hall early that night to see Petty and his band. They certainly didn’t disappoint, and gave the crowd a set which Nils found difficult to follow. This was one of the rare occasions that I have seen the hall full for the first band, and the support act having to return for an encore. I saw Petty again the following year supporting Jefferson Starship and Genesis at Knewborth, but haven’t managed to see him since. I had a ticket to see him at the Albert Hall last year but couldn’t make it on the day, which is a big regret for me. I hope Tom returns to the UK sometime soon so I can have another chance to catch him in concert. 
The tour programme proclaims “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is purely and simply the best mainstream rock debut by any American band this year…” and that Tom is a ” grey-eyed offspring of Speedy Keene and Mick Ronson” :). This album, the single “American Girl”, the tour, and their appearances on UK TV broke Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in the UK, and enabled them to go on to success in their home country and across the world. The UK dates with Nils were so successful that Petty and the guys were back a few weeks later to headline their own series of dates. From the Melody Maker at the time: “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers end their breakthrough British tour with Nils Lofgren this week — but the band return for their own concert series next month. The band’s phenomenal rise to headlining status has taken just three weeks. They came to Britain at the beginning of this month to play as support band on the Lofgren tour. Petty and the Heartbreakers, however, are ending the tour as one of the most in-demand bands currently playing in this country.” Nils was promoting his new album “I Came to Dance” and played an excellent gig, but was simply outclassed by the young guys who preceded him on stage that night. “I’m not Bob Dylan, but I never miss a beat. I ain’t no philosopher, I dance in the street. I came to dance…..”. 
The Lofgren set list at Newcastle City Hall 24th May 1977 was: Rock ‘n’ Roll Crook; Keith Don’t Go; Like Rain; Incidentally It’s Over; Goin’ Back; Code of the Road; Cry Tough; It’s Not A Crime; You’re The Weight; Moon Tears; I Don’t Want To Talk About It; Back It Up. Encores – Beggars Day; I Came To Dance.
The Tom Petty set list was: Surrender; Jaguar And Thunderbird; American Girl; Fooled Again; Breakdown; Listen To Her Heart; Strangered In The Night; I Need To Know; Anything That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll; Dog On The Run. Encore: Route 66.
“I Need To Know” was a big favourite of mine at the time, and brings back happy memories. This was one of those gigs that still sticks in my memory and that I would love to relive if I could.
Many thanks to Mitch for the two setlists, which helped bring back some of the memories.
26 Sep
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1976
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1976
Nils Lofgren had a serious pedigree when he appeared on the scene as a solo artist in 1976. This guy had played with Neil Young on After the Goldrush, he’d been a member of Crazy Horse, and fronted his own ban Grin. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I went to see him in 1976. I’d seen Springsteen for the first time the year before, and I thought that Nils could be of a similar musical bent, with the added attraction of his excellent guitar playing. Nils had just released his second solo album “Cry Tough”. The set featured songs from his first two records. 
I remember the song “Cry Tough” itself, a great version of Goffin and King’s “Going Back” and my own favourite, which was “Keith Don’t Go” a song about the stones’ Keith Richards and his drug bust in Toronto. Nils would wear bright Hawaiian style shirts and scarfs would be hanging from the head of his guitar. I went to see Nils a few times over those years in the late 70s, my mates and I were quite into him at the time. Support on the 1976 tour was a British band called Unicorn, whose music was reminiscent of Buffalo Springfiled, The Byrds, Poco, The Eagles and many other Country Rock bands of the 70. They released four albums with the help of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.
25 Sep
Arthur Lee and Love Newcastle Opera House August 2002
Arthur Lee and Love The Forever Changes tour Newcastle Opera House August 2002
“Alone again or” is one of those songs that sits outside any standard definition of a pop or rock song. Along with many of the other tracks on the Forever Changes album, its structure, rhythms and phrasing are unlike anything else I have ever heard. I remember being simply amazed by its uniqueness the first time I came across it. I bought a beat up vinyl copy of the album many years ago, but never thought I would get to see Arthur Lee and Love live.
However, in 2002, after spending six years in prison on gun charges, Love founder and frontman Arthur Lee began performing again. He formed a new version of Love, put together from members of the band Baby Lemonade, and set out on a tour of Europe. Marie and I went to the gig at Newcastle Opera House. The show featured the 1967 Forever Changes album, and tracks drawn from the remainder of Love’s back catalogue. Arthur was joined by a string and horn ensemble and did a petty damn good job of recreating his Love masterpiece. The evening was something I thought I’d never get to see, and the songs continue to amaze me every time I hear them.
Arthur Lee passed away in 2006 after a battle with leukaemia. Kandia Crazy Horse of Vibe Magazine wrote in an obituary that “‘Forever Changes’ (was) his psychedelic masterpiece … an exhilarating mash-up of West Side freak folk with East Side mariachi and blues. Lee out-jangles his heroes the Byrds on the immortal ‘Alone Again Or’ and aims his symphonic trigger dead at the Beatles on his greatest work, ‘You Set the Scene.’ In total, a glorious song cycle exploring the dark side of hippiedom.”
Setlist will have been something like: My Little Red Book; Orange Skies; Alone Again Or; A House Is Not a Motel; Andmoreagain; The Daily Planet; Old Man; The Red Telephone; Between Clark And Hilldale; Live and Let Live; The Good Humour Man; Bummer in the Summer; You Set the Scene; Robert Montgomerey; My Flash On You; Signed DC; Everybody’s Gotta Live – Instant Karma; August; Always See Your Face; Listen To My Song; She Comes in Colors; My Anthem; Singing Cowboy; 7 & 7 Is
A review by the Opera House:”It’s always difficult to sell tickets for a show in August with everyone in holiday mode, but we did for Arthur Lee. After only a month on sale, he pulled a very large and very partisan crowd. The faithful were well rewarded for their patience, many had waited 35 years to see him. Ever the showman, he didn’t let anyone down, quite the reverse. With lots of grit, strength and enough talent to make a thousand boy bands, Arthur sang his way through his impressive back catalogue.”
16 Sep
Lindisfarne live 1971 and 1972
Lindisfarne 1971 and 1972
The next band I’ll be writing about is Lindisfarne. I must have seen Lindisfarne more than 20 times over the years, including the legendary Christmas concerts at Newcastle City Hall, and at many festivals. I’m starting today with gigs I attended in Newcastle, Sunderland and at festivals during 1971 and 1972. I’ll reflect a little about those gigs today, and I’ll then move on to their 1972 UK tour which featured Genesis as support, Lindisfarne Mk II (1973 – 1975), the comeback Christmas concerts ay Newcastle City Hall in 1976 and 1977, the full comeback in 1978 and success with Run For Home, the ongoing City Hall Christmas concerts (1978 and into the 80s), and the sad farewell in 2003. Whew! That’s this week of blogging mapped out!
I first saw this band at Newcastle City Hall on a Charisma package tour, which featured Van der Graaf Generator, Lindisfarne and Genesis. The tickets were all of 30p, and we had some Northern Arts vouchers from school which entitled us to half price entry, and meant we paid 15p each! We hadn’t seen any of the three bands before and were really excited about it. The place was completely packed and we only just managed to get in. In those days, when the hall was full, they would let you sit on the stage on tiered choir seats behind the performers. This became a tradition for Lindisfarne in particular and that’s where we ended up that night. First up were Genesis, who were just great; this was the era of The Knife and the Musical Box, but it was Lindisfarne who stole the show that night. Unbeknown to us they were already local heroes and had everyone singing along with Fog on the Tyne, Meet me on the Corner, Lady Eleanor, and Clear White Light (my favourite along with Winter Song). The band was yet to break through big. We found headline band Van de Graaf Generator quite strange and somewhat difficult to get into, although Killer and Refugees have become favourites over the years. A great evening, a bargain at 15p :), and the first of many great nights that I would spend with Lindisfarne over the next 30+ years.
I then saw Lindisfarne at Sunderland Top Rank, which was another packed night, with support from the excellent Capability Brown; I remember Clear White Light was the encore in those days, and I can picture the packed ballroom singing along, everyone on tables and chairs, hands in the air. Lindisfarne were also great festival favourites and I saw them steal the show on a couple of occasions at open air events; at the Lincoln festival in May 1972, and again at the Grangemouth pop festival near Edinburgh in late 1972.
This was the classic line-up of Alan Hull, Ray Jackson, Rod Clements, Si Cowe, and Ray Laidlaw. The band really were at the top of the game during this period, and couldn’t be betted as fun-time live act. They had two excellent albums under their belt; Nicely Out of Tune (1970) and Fog on the Tyne (1971), and a clutch of great sing-along tunes. A Lindisfarne concert at the time incuded No Time To Lose, January Song, Meet Me On The Corner, Alright On The Night, Train In G Major, Scotch Mist, Lady Eleanor, Knacker’s Yard Blues, Fog On The Tyne, We Can Swing Together, and Clear White Light as encore. Their 1971 December City Hall concert was recorded and released as a live album in 1973, and shows the band at their live best. You knew what to expect when you went along to a Lindisfarne concert in those days: great humorous stage banter from Alan Hull and Jacka, singalong songs that we all knew the words to, classic folk-rock with mouth harp and violin, some rock’n’roll, beautiful harmonies particularly on Clear White Light, and the haunting Lady Eleanor.
Its easy to forget just how successful and popular Lindisfarne were at the time. From Rolling Stone magazine in 1972: “Fog on the Tyne has been just about the biggest album in Great Britain this year. The single off the album, ‘Meet Me on the Corner’, was also a bestseller.This makes Lindisfarne the most popular band in England right now — next to T Rex, that is. But Lindisfarne neither looks nor sounds very commercial; the group’s style is uncompromisingly peculiar. The band is unique in every way..”
Tomorrow I’ll write about the 1972 tour, which featured Genesis as support, and was in support of their third album Dingly Dell. The tour called at the City Hall for two nights, and I went along to both concerts.
2 Sep
Liverpool Express Newcastle City Hall 1977
Liverpool Express Newcastle City Hall 1977
Support from local band Arbre
Liverpool Express were formed in 1975, by members of the legendary Liverpool 60s beat band The Merseybeats. They are best known for their two hits “You Are My Love” (which Paul McCartney once famously declared to be one of his favourite songs), and “Every Man Must Have A Dream”. I won tickets for this gig in a competition in a local newspaper. “You Are My Love” is a great pure pop song with beautiful harmonies, and was quite a favourite of mine at the time. 
The City Hall was reasonably full for this gig, which was part of the 1977 Newcastle Festival festivities. Guitarist Billy Kinsley was playing his trademark Gibson Firebird, which the Merseys were well known for; in fact all three front men played similar guitars, and still do to this day. Kinsley rejoined the Merseybeats after Liverpool Express folded, and remains in the band today, alongside fellow founder member Tony Crane. Liverpool Express were quite well known for a short time, appearing on British television quite frequently; particularly Top of the Pops. As well as playing their own hit singles, I think they also played a couple of Merseybeat hits.
Support for the gig were Arbre, a local band fronted by brothers Phil, Peter and Paul Caffrey who have been singing together for most of their lives, and still do today as the Caffreys. Arbre were signed to DJM records, which was home to Elton John at the time. They were promoted as Britain’s answer to the Eagles, but split after a few years and a couple of albums.
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